The Lushan Conference, 1959 Flashcards
What happened in July 1959?
The party held a conference at the mountain town of Lushan, Jiangxi
Minister of defence, Peng Duhuai, voiced doubts about the reports of a record grain harvest (375m tonnes).
He had visited his home village in Hunan province an witnessed the plight of the peasantry; he wrote a letter to Mao in which he raised the issue of exaggerated reporting (believed his status in the party would protect him)
Who was Peng Duhai?
Minister of defence
Long been a CLOSE colleague of Mao’s,
Brilliant MILITARY LEADER,
HERO of struggle against Nationalists, of Korean War
What happened to Peng Duhai?
What message did this send?
Mao felt betrayed.
He made Peng’s letter public, accused him of colluding with Khrushchev behind his back.
He was replaced by Lin Biao (Mao’s devoted ally)
NO CRITICISM of Mao was possible
Despite claiming that the weather was the main cause of the failures of the Great Leap Forward, Mao was forced to…
Take a step back from the day-to-day running of the country.
Instead, Liu and Deng introduced economic reforms (62-65)
^^^^ pragmatists: “It doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice”— Deng
Liu and Deng’s reforms (1962-65) were successful to a large extent:
INDUSTRY
• FACTORIES:
- told to make a profit > aiming for communist ideology
- make products to help agriculture: steel, wood, bamboo to make tools, carts, boats
• by 1965: industrial output nearly double that of 1957
• Light Industry (clothes and furniture) grew @ 27% each year
• Heavy Industry: 17% growth rate
Liu and Dengs reforms (1962-65) were successful to a large extent:
Experts
Experts sent to Laogai during Anti-Rightist campaign RELEASED and returned to management posts
Liu and Deng’s economic reforms (1962-65) were successful to a large extent:
Agriculture
• by the end of 1962: availability of tools, boats, carts restored to same level as before the introduction of communes
• communes reduced in size
• peasants given greater freedom to:
- grow what they wanted
- sell the surplus for profit at market
• OPPORTUNITY TO WORK PRIVATE PLOTS: incentive for the harder-working, more experienced, entrepreneurial peasants to improve their lives:
✅ grasped it— by the mid-60s, private production accounted for approx 1/3 of peasants incomes.
